Photo © Scottish Parliament
Former Member of the Scottish Parliament
Mercedes Villalba
Unknown party
At a glance Mercedes Villalba was a Member of the Scottish Parliament.
Attendance is votes cast as a share of the 2,903 Holyrood divisions on record; Mercedes Villalba did not vote in 207.
Voting record
The most recent divisions Mercedes Villalba voted in. For, Against and Abstain are as recorded.
| 24 Mar 2026 | Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 24 Mar 2026 | Railways Bill - UK Legislation | For |
| 24 Mar 2026 | Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill | For |
| 24 Mar 2026 | Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 19 Mar 2026 | Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 19 Mar 2026 | Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee’s 8th Report, 2026 (Session 6) | For |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Approval of SSI | For |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 17 Mar 2026 | Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 17 Mar 2026 | Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 17 Mar 2026 | Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill | Against |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Approval of SSI | For |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Approval of SSI | For |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Approval of SSI | Against |
| 5 Mar 2026 | Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill | For |
Questions
Mercedes Villalba has tabled 523 questions in the Scottish Parliament.
To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with Crown Estate Scotland regarding the relinquishing of …
To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with Crown Estate Scotland regarding the relinquishing of the CampionWind lease by Shell UK in November 2025.
Answer · Gillian Martin · 25 Mar 2026
Crown Estate Scotland(CES)is responsible for the leasing of the seabed and provides the Scottish Government with regular updates on the progress of offshore wind projects.The handing back of CampionWind’s lease option to CES was a commercial decision made by Shell UK. The Scottish Government was informed of this development by CES.Individual developers and companies routinely reassess their commercial priorities. This is a normal feature of the offshore wind market and the wider industry.
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that (a) ScotWind leases and (b) Supply Chain Developm…
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that (a) ScotWind leases and (b) Supply Chain Development Statements (SCDS) produce stable, long-term economic benefits for (i) workers and (ii) businesses in north east Scotland.
Answer · Gillian Martin · 25 Mar 2026
The ScotWind leasing round and the Supply Chain Development Statement (SCDS) process have been carefully designed and are managed by Crown Estate Scotland (CES). The process has produced a leasing round focused on quality and deliverability of bids, and long-term supply chain investment which promises to be transformational for Scotland’s economy.We are building on the commitment of ScotWind developers to invest an average projection of £1.5 bn in Scotland per project by leveraging private investment in our supply chain through our offshore wind strategic investment. Working with our enterprise agencies, we continue to support companies in the North East and Moray - areas that have provided energy security through oil and gas for generations - to access opportunities emerging from offshore wind.
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent relinquishing of ScotWind leases.
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent relinquishing of ScotWind leases.
Answer · Gillian Martin · 25 Mar 2026
The Scottish Government is doing everything within its power to support the delivery of ScotWind projects and ensure that the offshore wind opportunity for Scotland is realised.To date, we have unlocked almost £900m of investment in port and supply chain projects, helping underpin the delivery of our offshore wind pipeline.To secure project delivery in Scotland, the UK Government must prioritise the critical reforms necessary to make transmission charges fairer, and bring forward grid connection dates.Given the scale of the offshore wind opportunity in Scotland, some project attrition is inevitable as developers reassess their commercial priorities. This is a normal and expected feature of an offshore wind market of this scale and potential.
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the conditions or penalties for ScotWind lease holder…
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the conditions or penalties for ScotWind lease holders (a) breaching Supply Chain Development Statements (SCDS), (b) breaching conditions of lease and (c) relinquishing leases.
Answer · Gillian Martin · 25 Mar 2026
Crown Estate Scotland (CES) manages all aspects of the ScotWind process and is responsible for monitoring compliance with, and enforcing the conditions of, the ScotWind leasing round.We expect developers to deliver on their Supply Chain Development Statement (SCDS) commitments. Failure to do so can trigger remedies ranging from financial penalties to an inability to progress to a seabed lease.If the conditions of an option agreement or lease are not met, CES will assess the circumstances of the breach on a case-by-case basis. Where a breach is considered material, CES may take appropriate action in line with the terms of the agreement. This can include, where justified, the termination of the option agreement or lease.
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made in the Climate Change Plan of the impact of Peterhead Carbon…
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made in the Climate Change Plan of the impact of Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station on (a) terrestrial and marine (i) environmental quality and (ii) biodiversity, (b) greenhouse gas emissions, (c) carbon capture technology development and (d) carbon capture technology efficiency.
Answer · Gillian Martin · 25 Mar 2026
The public consultation on the draft Climate Change Plan (CCP) closed on 29 January 2026. The final CCP was published on Tuesday 24th March.
To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with (a) SSE, (b) other developers, (c) local communit…
To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with (a) SSE, (b) other developers, (c) local communities, (d) trade unions and (e) environmental organisations regarding (i) the proposed Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station and (ii) the associated environmental impact assessment.
Answer · Ivan McKee · 19 Mar 2026
As this is a live application which will come before Scottish Ministers for determination, it would not be appropriate to comment on the specific merits of the proposal.Where appropriate, the Scottish Government engages with developers, statutory consultees and other stakeholders on procedural or policy matters.Potential impacts on communities, nature, landscape and other valued natural assets are important considerations in the decision-making process. The merits of each proposal are considered on a case-by-case basis, and a careful balance must be struck between the potential impacts of the development and the associated environmental, economic, renewable energy and climate change benefits.A final decision will only be taken after careful and thorough consideration of all material issues including the representations received, consultee advice, relevant environmental information, as well as all planning information in accordance with the relevant legislative obligations.
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the updated environmental impact assessment for the pr…
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the updated environmental impact assessment for the proposed Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station.
Answer · Ivan McKee · 19 Mar 2026
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-44254 on 19 March 2026 .All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to establish a genetic testing programme for "feral pigs" or wi…
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to establish a genetic testing programme for "feral pigs" or wild boar (Sus scrofa).
Answer · Jim Fairlie · 24 Mar 2026
The Scottish Government does not have any plans to establish a genetic testing programme for feral pigs or wild boar.Previous testing undertaken by NatureScot and Science and Advice for Scotland’s Agriculture (SASA), which assessed the DNA of shot pigs in Scotland, highlighted that feral pigs originated from a wide mix of wild boar, domesticated pigs and hybrids.
Motions lodged
| 24 Mar 2026 | Celebrating Nomad Yoga Studio in Dundee | 3 sig. |
| 23 Mar 2026 | Centenary of the 1926 General Strike | 12 sig. |
| 17 Mar 2026 | World Down Syndrome Day, 21 March 2026 | 25 sig. |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Support Scottish Teachers and Scottish Education | 4 sig. |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Motion of Condolence for George Ramsay, Unite Regional Officer | 22 sig. |
| 2 Mar 2026 | Solidarity with BrewDog Workers | 15 sig. |
Speeches
Recent things Mercedes Villalba has said in the chamber and in committee, from the Official Report.
25 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time
A constituent of mine said:“I’ve been begging repeatedly for months for them to process my ADP claim, only to be ignored, told to contact charities or completely brushed off. We frequently go hungry due to severe financial hardship because…
25 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
A constituent of mine said:“I’ve been begging repeatedly for months for them to process my ADP claim, only to be ignored, told to contact charities or completely brushed off. We frequently go hungry due to severe financial hardship because…
25 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time
How will the recommendations in the community right to buy review strengthen existing mechanisms or create new support mechanisms so that more communities can take ownership of their land? Is it likely that an amending bill will be needed,…
25 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
How will the recommendations in the community right to buy review strengthen existing mechanisms or create new support mechanisms so that more communities can take ownership of their land? Is it likely that an amending bill will be needed,…
24 Mar 2026 Climate Change Plan (draft)
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of her statement. I welcome Scotland’s new climate change plan, which is of crucial importance for workers and communities in the North East Scotland region that I have been so privileged to …
19 Mar 2026 Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (draft)
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would like to question whether proper procedures have been followed in relation to the requirement, under standing orders, that any member who has a declarable interest in any matter declares that …
19 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
The energy transition for workers in the oil and gas supply chain must be a truly just transition. It is therefore particularly concerning that approval of Rosebank might risk breaching international law due to Ithaca Energy being majority…
5 Mar 2026 Draft Climate Change Plan (draft)
Will the member take an intervention?
5 Mar 2026 Draft Climate Change Plan (draft)
That will require innovative redistributive plans for how we decarbonise and transition, along with transformative workforce planning, which means that workers and families will benefit from the just transition. We must be steadfast in our…
5 Mar 2026 Draft Climate Change Plan (draft)
The draft climate change plan was developed around the principle of decarbonising our society and economy to meet Scotland’s net zero goals. Although the plan is a welcome and crucial step to decarbonising our economy, there remains a real…
4 Mar 2026 Banking Charges for Charities and Not-for-profit Organisations
I thank Liam Kerr for taking the intervention. I will make it brief.On the point about the banks having benefited from the bailout, does Liam Kerr agree that that means that they now have a moral obligation to guarantee the Scottish public…
4 Mar 2026 Banking Charges for Charities and Not-for-profit Organisations
Will Liam Kerr take an intervention?
4 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time
The “Who Owns Scotland 2025” report shows that only 2.8 per cent of rural land in Scotland is owned by community groups. The Scottish Government can do far more to make community ownership of land easier. The cabinet secretary mentioned so…
3 Mar 2026 Topical Question Time (draft)
I thank the cabinet secretary for his response and remind him that, in 2024, following public pressure and intervention from the then First Minister Humza Yousaf, the Scottish Government confirmed that Scottish Government-owned Prestwick a…
3 Mar 2026 Topical Question Time (draft)
I thank the cabinet secretary for his response. I also welcomed the First Minister’s statement yesterday, which questioned whether the US and Israel have abided by the international rules-based system with their strikes on Iran. I am pleas…
3 Mar 2026 Topical Question Time (draft)
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish publicly owned infrastructure, such as Prestwick or Wick John O’Groats airports, has been used by the US Air Force for the recent strikes on Iran. (S6T-02933)
26 Feb 2026 Portfolio Question Time
Will the cabinet secretary meet workers and their union—the Public and Commercial Services Union—to hear their concerns?
26 Feb 2026 Portfolio Question Time
In a statement to the press, the Scottish Government said that it is“working closely with Wave Energy Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other partners to sustain operations while future alternative sources of funding are ident…
26 Feb 2026 First Minister’s Question Time
Just two years after strike action was averted, thanks to trade union negotiation, UCU members at the University of Aberdeen have voted overwhelmingly in support of industrial action. They voted in defence of their jobs, their workplace an…
26 Feb 2026 First Minister’s Question Time
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the outcome of the University of Aberdeen UCU ballot, which resulted in 83 per cent of those voting in support of strike action and 90 per cent in favour of action sho…
Seat & career
- North East Scotland (region) Regional MSP · Dissolution 6 May 2021 – 8 Apr 2026
Allowances
2025 (latest published)
Source: Scottish Parliament (published ~1 year in arrears)
Contact & offices
Source: this MSP's official Scottish Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.